H5031 H5031
Prophetess — a woman endowed with prophetic gifting, whether through song, oracular speech, or the spirit of God.
The feminine form of navi ('prophet'), designating a woman who functions in a prophetic role. Scripture names five women with this title: Miriam, who led Israel in triumphant song at the Red Sea (Exod 15:20); Deborah, who judged Israel and accompanied Barak into battle (Judg 4:4); Huldah, whom King Josiah's officials consulted when the Book of the Law was found (2 Kgs 22:14 = 2 Chr 34:22); the unnamed wife of Isaiah (Isa 8:3); and the false prophetess Noadiah who opposed Nehemiah (Neh 6:14). The Spanish 'profetisa' and French 'prophetesse' both preserve the feminine marking, mirroring the Hebrew feminine suffix.
Senses
1. prophetess — A woman recognized as bearing the prophetic gift, whether through inspired song (Miriam, Exod 15:20), judicial-oracular authority (Deborah, Judg 4:4), consultative prophecy (Huldah, 2 Kgs 22:14), spousal association with a prophet (Isaiah's wife, Isa 8:3), or even false prophecy (Noadiah, Neh 6:14). The title parallels masculine navi and indicates genuine spiritual authority. The articled form 'the prophetess' appears in most occurrences, suggesting the role was sufficiently recognized to warrant the definite article. Spanish 'profetisa' and French 'prophetesse' both maintain the grammatical feminization. 6×
AR["النَّبِيَّةُ", "النَّبِيَّةِ", "نَبِيَّةٌ"]·ben["-ভাববাদিনী", "নবীয়া", "নবীরা", "ভাববাদিনী", "ভাববাদিনীকে"]·DE["[הנביאה]", "der-Prophetin", "der-prophetess", "ein-prophetess"]·EN["a-prophetess", "the-prophetess"]·FR["[הנביאה]", "le-prophetess", "le-prophétesse", "une-prophétesse"]·heb["ה-נביאה", "נביאה"]·HI["नबिया", "नबियाह", "भविष्यवक्त्री", "ह-नबियाह"]·ID["nabiah"]·IT["[הנביאה]", "il-profetessa", "il-prophetess", "un-profetessa"]·jav["nabi", "nabiah", "nabiah-punika", "nabiyah"]·KO["그-여선지자", "그-여선지자가", "그-여선지자에게", "그-여선지자와", "선지자", "여선지자"]·PT["a-profetisa", "profetisa"]·RU["пророчица", "пророчице"]·ES["la-profetisa", "profetisa"]·SW["hanּbiyah", "nabii", "nabii-mke", "nabii-wa-kike"]·TR["kadın-peygamber", "nebiye", "nebiyye", "peygamber", "peygambere"]·urd["نبیّہ", "نبیہ"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† נְבִיאָה n.f. prophetess;— 1. a. of the ancient type endowed with gift of song, Miriam Ex 15:20; Deborah Ju 4:4. b. of the later type consulted for a word of י׳, Huldah 2 K 22:14 = 2 Ch 34:22. 2. false prophetess, Noadiah Ne 6:14. 3. wife of Isaiah Is 8:3.